What Is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant (COTA)?
Certified occupational therapy assistants support occupational therapists in providing rehabilitative care to patients with mental, emotional, or physical impairments that prevent them from working or living independently. They aim to help patients recover from, or compensate for, an ailment and resume a productive life. Almost all programs to become an occupational therapy assistant lead to associate's degrees. Certification, licensing, or registration is mandated to work in most states. Some states utilize the certification exam offered by the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy for licensure.
| Required Education | Associate's degree in occupational therapy assisting |
| Licensure | Required by most states |
| Projected Job Growth (2019-2029) | 32% for occupational therapy assistants and aides* |
| Median Salary (2019) | $61,510* |
Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
How to Become an Occupational Therapist Assistant
How do you become a certified occupational therapy assistant? You must first enter into an associate's degree program that includes COTA courses on medical terminology, kinesiology, and intervention techniques. Once you've completed program requirements, you can sit for your board certification exam and apply for state licensure.
- Choose and pursue an educational pathway
- Get licensed and certified
- Consider volunteering
- Apply for COTA positions
Occupational Therapy Assistant Requirements
Occupational therapy assistant education requirements include both potential university education and in-person training. With the vast majority of occupational therapist assistant education programs offered as associate's degrees, a high school diploma is usually one of the only prerequisites for occupational therapy assistant employment. Some schools may give preference to students who have completed biology courses or volunteered at a healthcare facility or who have obtained a COTA degree. As a result, occupational therapy assistant years of schooling can be highly variable.
The first year of an occupational therapy assistant program is typically devoted to classroom work. A fieldwork or clinical practice component augments classes the second year. Classes include medical terminology, neuroscience concepts, kinesiology, physical rehab, intervention techniques, pediatrics, and gerontology. Students who complete this program are prepared to work under an occupational therapist in acute care, rehabilitation, home healthcare, long-term care, and outpatient settings.
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Licensing and COTA Certification
Occupational therapy assistant certification programs are another important thing to consider when looking into becoming a COTA. Nearly all the U.S. states mandate licensing, registration, or certification for occupational therapy assistants. Some states accept a national certifying exam offered by the National Board for Certifying Occupational Therapy as meeting their regulations, but others have their own licensing exam. Assistants who work in schools or early intervention programs may also need education-related credentials, such as education classes or a teaching certificate. Many states require occupational therapy assistants to take part in workshops and continuing education courses in order to maintain their certification.
Work Environments for Occupational Therapy Assistants
COTAs generally work in clinical environments, either in hospitals or in private practices. Because they work alongside occupational therapists, they tend not to have their own practices but rather work at already existing offices. In some cases, occupational therapy assistants will work with clients at their homes in order to improve accessibility. Work is variable and sometimes physically demanding.
Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant: Duties and Skills
Occupational therapy assistants should have several of the following traits:
- Compassionate
- Patient
- Knowledgeable about clients' medical needs
- Knowledgeable about disability, including disability rights activism
- Moderately physically fit
- In possession of excellent communication skills
Occupational therapy assistants collaborate with an occupational therapist to devise a treatment plan and then lead patients through the plan. This generally entails helping patients perform stretching, strengthening, and range of motion exercises, as well as acclimating them to wheelchairs, artificial limbs or other devices. Assistants also monitor the progress of treatment and suggest changes if a patient isn't progressing. Occupational therapy assistants also need to be adept at verbal communication, sympathetic to the emotional needs of patients and perceptive to any difficulties patients have adjusting to limited circumstances.
In summary, occupational therapy assistants help clients with mental, physical, or emotional impairments work through rehabilitation plans under the supervision of an occupational therapist. Depending on the state, registration, licensing, or certification is required. Generally, an associate degree can help applicants meet prerequisites for these credentials.
